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He said: "Obviously I was disappointed we lost the game. We went behind to what we thought was a lucky goal on their behalf, although they all count.
"Everton's second goal came after our best spell of play we had in the game, which was unfortunate. We conceded when we allowed Andy Johnson to turn in the box and you can't allow that to happen. He then squared it across to Victor Anichebe, who was left with a tap-in, so that's disappointing.
"So there are plenty of things to work on, although I saw a lot of positives from the performance - I was pleased with the effort we put in. Andreas Granqvist looked comfortable at the back and I was pleased with his performance. Probably his only mistake was letting Johnson turn and at this level things like that prove costly.
"He was playing because Emmerson Boyce has a hip injury and failed a fitness test on the morning of the game. Although I'm disappointed to have lost, no one goes up or down on the first game of the season.
"We've got two home games to come, against Middlesbrough on Wednesday then Sunderland. It's important we take points from those, but we have to have the mental strength as well to go to places like Goodison Park and come away with something.
How you are going to do in your first game of the season is quite difficult to judge because pre-season results can be a little bit false. But we have to learn quickly and gel together as a team."
It is unlikely that there will be any new faces in the squad in time for the 'Boro game, although Antoine Sibierksi may be fit enough to start the game after recovering from a thigh strain.
The French forward impressed after coming on as a second half substitute for Caleb Folan.
Meanwhile, Emmerson Boyce could come into the defence at the unusual position of left back, to help control Tuncay Sanli, the influential 'Boro forward.
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